Tuning means for drums and the like



Nov. 17, 1925- V W. F. LUDWIG ET AL TUNING MEANS FOR DRUMS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 13. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I ma /672250215:

@Woer a $601 19,

Nov. 17,1925,-

3%" K y Mal;

Filed Sept. 13; 1923 W F LUDWIG ET AL TUNING MEANS FOR DRUMS AND THE LIKE nurse VIILLIAM 1 LUDWIG, All) EOBEJRL' C; DAI'JLY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISL ASSIG-NORS TO A CORPOBATIQN OF ILLINOIS.

Tomm means names a m; renn- LIKE.

Application filed September 13, 15223,

in the county of Cool: and State ot Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful 1mproreincnts in T uni up Means for Drumsand the like, oi? which the rollowiug;- is a specification.

This invention relates to tuning means for the resonant member of kettle drums and like musical instruments, and more especially to that type of the same in which the tuning means is actuated and controlled by the movement of a foot pedal, and the present improvement has for ooject To provide a combine-onv of parts in a tuning mechanism usually of the pedal actuated type, whereby the progressively increasstress or load at one end of the mechanism, d c to a progressive tcnsioning of the rcsonatin head of the instrument, in raising the tone of the same. is counterbalanced by a corresponding progressively increasing re.-

sistanco or load to. hold the parts to the position to which they have been. manually adjusted, usually by the foot of the operator, and without the use of separate holding or fastening: meanswhich require separate ma- :1!) nipulation by the player, and b means of which an easy, rapid and accurate ad ust.- ment of the parts by the operator isattained.

in the accompanying drawings 1, is a side elevation, with parts in section. of kettle drum and its support to which is applied the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2, is an out: reed detail section of the drum head and the immediate parts of the 4) a dj llSlllllQ' mechanism.

his. 0, is d tail central vertical of the preferred form of the present or head tuningor adj ustii' c; mechanism.

Fig. l, is an eleraticn. transverse to i 1, of the joint bewee the kettle drum carrying" spider and its standard or support.

5. is a detail horizontal section on line Fin. 4. G a similar View on l 7, is a detail ele a, tion, illustrating. a. modi arrangement of the, counter-ha ancinn spin 5 shown in ll ioj. S is a detail section on line 8.8 Fi i. 7. like rerez'ence numerals indicate like in the so eral views.

ine 66 Fig. 4.

flerial No. 862,460.

In the drawings, the present invention is shown applied to the kettle drum or tympani type oi band instrument, in which the shell or body 1, is of a kettle form, the open top oi' which closed by a resonatinghead or skin 2 attached to the usual skin hoop 3, which in turn is provided with a circularly arranged plurality of manually actuated adjusting means by which the drum head or skin 2 is stretched and tuned over the usual rounded rim of the drum shell or body 1 in an ordinary tuning operation on the instrument.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, and 2, each manual adjusting means, above referred to, comprises ahandled screw rod 1, journalled in a bearing ear or lug 5 on the hoop 3, with its screw threaded end hayingoperative engagementin a nut (Spivoted in one arm of a bell crank lever '1 the lever 7 is pivoted in bearing ears or lugs 8 secured to the outer taco of the drum shell 1, and its arm opposite to that carrying the nut 6 atoresaichhas pivotal and sliding connectionto the outer end of one of the plurality of pull rods 9, which extend inwardly through the wall of. the drum shelll for connection in common to a centrally arranged coim-ecting head 10.

Inthe construction shown, the inner ends of the pull rods 9 have a spherical form and have engagement with a circular series of openbottom slots in a down turned marginal flange 11 of the connectinq head 10 atoresaid, with the spherical rod ends 12, held in place by a follower disk 13 sliding on the vertical operating rod hereinafter described, and yieldingly held to place by a. coiled spring 14E encircling said operating rod, as illustrated in F gs. 1. and 3.

On its underside the drum she l 1 has the usual fixed carryingcup o spider 5 tcrne'l with a central tubular huh 16 for turning adjustmentin a horizontal plane in orre spondingly. formed split socket or sleeve 1'? of the hereinafter describedyoke member b'. which pivotal adjustment of the drum shell 1 in a vertical plane is effected on the standard or floor support, as hereinat'tcr set forth in detail. The split sleeve 17 is provided with a clamping bolt 18 by which the same is clamped around the hub 16.. after a horizontal adjustment of the drum shell.

The standard of floor support for the drum shell 1 above referred to, consists of an upright hollow standard 19 and a main horizontal foot 20 integrally formed with the standard, and extending horizontally from the side of the standard to provide in conjunction with a pair of folding auxiliary feet 21 a substantial support for the instrument and its adjusting mechanism in actual use.

The upper end of the tubular standard i9 is formed with an internal screw thread for engagement with the screw threaded periphery of a hollow post 22, with a view to effect a telescoping ustment of the post and drum shell. At its respective upper and low r ends the hollow post 22 is provided with the usual outturned flanges or collars to confine adjustments in either directiou, while at its upper end said post 22 carries a pair of cheek plates 23 arranged in spaced relation and formed with. side extensions to afford bearings for a pivot pin 2t by which the intermediate yoke member heretofore referred to is pivotally mounted on the post Said pivot pin 24 is formed with a screw threaded end for the reception of a wing nut 25. by which the parts are clamped together after adjustment. In addition said pivot pin 24 provides a hearing for the hereinafter described radius link of the pedal actuated pull connection of the turning mechanism.

The intermediate yoke member heretofore referred to, consists of the upper split sleeve 17 and clamping bolt 13 aforesaid, and a pair of cheek plates 23 depending from the sleeve 17 and having pivotal connection with the cheek plates 23 of the tubular post 22 aforesaid by pivot studs 27 and open sided pivot slots 27 formed in the cheek plates 26 as shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8. The cheek plates 26 are formed with segmental slots 28, embracing the pivot pin 24. aforesaid, to have limited movement thereon in an. adjustment of the parts in a vertical plane. The construction above described constitutes a part of the subject matter of a divisional application Serial No. 76, filed January 2, 1.925, and provides for a ready tilting of the drum body 1 to any angle re uired. and admits of a ready disconnection of the drum body and floor support for packing and transportation.

The horizontal foot 20 of the floor support heretofore referred to, is of a hollow open bottom form. and at a point remote from its attachment to the standard 19 is provided with a pair of pivot ears 29 in which an operating foot pedal 30 is mounted midway its length so as to be capable of positive operation from either end from its pivot point. In the construction shown, the pedal 30 carries a depending rock arm 31 operatively connected by a horizontal rod 32 with a reverse motion memb r 33 of a motion transmitting mechanism follows:

The motion member 33 above referred to is preferably of the angle lever type of the V form shown, and pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 34 in the interior of the foot 20, with its lower end pivotally connected with the horizontal rod 32 by the spring she-ll bracket L6 hereinafter described.

At an upper end opposite to the one having pivotal connection with the pivot pin 34 the angle lever 33 has pivotal connection with the lower member 35 of an extensible pull member having vertical arrangement in the bore of the hollow post 22 aforesaid. In the construction shown the aforesaid lower member 35 is of a tubular internally screw threaded form adapted for adjustable attachcment to a COH'IPELDlOll externally screw threaded rod 36 having operative connections, now to be described with the connecting head 10 of the tuning mechanism heretofore described.

The pull rod 37 heretofore referred to as extending down from the connecting head 10 of the series of radial pull rods 9 of the upper portion of the tuning mechanism is provided near its lower end with an adjustable stop nut or collar 38 for abutment against a lower side of an orificed web of the hub 16 aforesaid to limit the upper travel of said rod 37. At its extreme lower end, the collar 38 is provided with a spherical head 39 adapted for operative engagement with a radius link ll) by which motion in an approximately vertical plane is imposed upon the upper end of the rod 36 above described.

The radius link 4-0 is pivotally mounted at one end on the pivot pin 24. aforesaid, and at the other end is formed with an open ended tubular socket head 41 for operative engagement with the aforesaid spherical head 39 of the pull rod 37, and with depending pivot cars 42 for pivotal connection with the upper end of the vertical rod 36 aforesaid.

The open end form of the recess in the socket head ll permits of an easy lateral separation of said head from the spherical. head 39, in a disengagement of the upper and lower drum parts for packing and transportation, heretofore referred to. In such disengao'ing operation the pivot pin or shaft 24; is first removed from its engagement with the cheek plates 23 and 26, before the socket head 4-1 is moved laterally out of engagem nt with the spherical end 39 of the pull rod 3?. and also before a like movement of pivot slots 27 of the cheek plates 28 out of engagement with the pivot studs 27 of the cheek plates 23.

In the construction. above described, which. constitutes a part. of the suhiect matter of a divisional application, Serial No. 76. filed Jan. 2, 1.925, the pitch of the screw threads on the tubular member and associated rod 36 are alike to the screw threads on the standard 19 and post 22, so that in the turning of the drum shell 1 to attain vertical adjustment of the same, the verti- 'al incinbcrs 35 and 36 of the pull connection just described will have a. corresponding lengthening or shortening: adjustment, to preserve the existing tensioning or tuning condition of the: same. antL due to the fact that while the upper screw threaded member :36 has a turningmovement with the drum shell 1. the associated lower ineniber 35 held from rotation by attachment to the angle lever 33 aforesaid.

The material part of the present improven'icntinrolves the conil'iination with a toning mechanism of the type dcscribeth of a balancing); means of the stored energy type arranged in opposed relation to the polling;- stress exerted b v the resonant or skin head of the instrument in it normal tendency to return to a less tensioncd condition and the lowerinos'it tone of the scale required which prevailed previous to an active ope 'ation of said pedal mechanism, and so that such normal return tendencg will be counterbalanced and the pedal mechanism will remain in the position at which it may be placed without. the use of pawl and ratchet or like mechanism to hold said mechanism at its points of adjustn'ient and wh ch have been found necessaiw in pedal actuated tunin mechanisms heretofore on the market, and with the added advantage of greater ease in operation.

In the preferred mechanism for attainii the above described function, shown in Fig. 3, of the drawing a coil spring 3.01 a predetermined strength is arranged within a cylindrical casing llthe upper end or head of which forms an uppe abutment for said spring while the lower end of the casing provided with a. closure head carrying the depending bracket 46 of a. G form having a pivot eye t? at its lower end for operative cn ment with the lower end of the angle lever 33, so as to move in unison therewith and with the other portions of the pedal actuated mechanism.

sieving in the lower end of the casing it is an abutment head it forming toe lower abutment for the. spring aforesaid and provided with a sectional rod or stem formed by an upper internally screw threaded sleeve 4-9 having adjustable screw threaded engagement with a lower screw threaded rod 00 fixedly attached to said abutmenthead 48. In such construction, a manual rotation of the sleeve 49 in one direction or the other will cause an extension or contraction in the length of the connection. with a like increase or decrease in the force i the spring- 43. To such end the sleeve l9 provided with a handle 51 for convenient, manual operation.

The casing 4:4, and associated parts described are arranged in an upstainh such hollow extension 20 of the horizontal foot 20. of the instrument support and have pivotal support in said extension by means of a pivot collar lined on the sleeve "l9 and having bearing in a. concave formed in a closure bushing; of said extension] In the described construction the lower part of the casing; t t and its describec accessories are adapted to have a vibrator movement in unison with the horizon al movement. of the rod 32 of the pedal actuated mechanism with. the parts operatingas follows in the normal and inactive position of parts, illustrated in Fi 3. the stop nut or collar 3% is at holding; rest against a web of the hub lit. to maintain the iuanual tuning;

'i'ncchani in to the. position to which it had been ad ted by the hand mechanisn'i and at which position of parts the drum head of the instrument had been tensioncd bv i mechanism to the lowermost tone of the scale required. It being the universal practice for the player to n'iaintain such adjustment and meet changing conditions of tnnperatnre and humidity by means of said hand tuning ine-chanisn'i. In the. position of parts above. set forth, the center line of the casing; -il-'-l-. and the pivot axis of; the eye. l? of the pivot bracket l6 are in alignedrelation with the pivot axis 3590f the angle lever 33., so that the stress of the spring 43 is on a dead line with the axis of the lever 33, and is incapable of exerting a working; stress upon and movement of said lever in either direction.

li ith an operation of the foot pedal il to rock the angle lever 33 and in turn effect a downward pull on the described vertical connections of the drum head, the. lower 3 *otconnection, 4:? of the c sing; 44: moves to the right in Fig. 3, and away from the dead line above referred to, and. intro dnces, as such movement progrosses a corresponding increase in the percentage. of resilient power or resistance on the part of the spring; 43 equal to and adapted to re.-. sist an effective-1v counterbalance the pullinc; stress on the other arm of the angle lever 33, by the tensioncd drum head or membrane 2 through the intermediate connections heretofore described. The ten( one}; of such pulling stress on the part of the head or membrane 2 to return the said intermediate connections to a position in which the stop nut or collar 38 of the. pull. rod 3'? is in abutment contact with the under face of a web portion of the hub 16 of the drum shell supporting spider 15 aforesaid, and is adapted to hold the drum head or membrane 2 tensioned through the primary manual adjusting means heretofore. described. to the lowermost tone of the. scale 'rcd. With such counterbalancing eitthe parts of the. tuning mechanism are iuted to remain at the point to which lOO &

they were forced by the foot pedal. 31), w h-- out any additional fastening means, such as holding pawls and ratchets, but requiring positive movement on the part or said pedal in one direction or the other to eilect a change in the position to which said parts had been placed.

The modified arrangement of parts shown in F '7, involves the substitution of a coiled spring 48 off the tension type, for the coiled spring of the conipression type shown in Fig. 3, and the connection of said spring 43 at one end with the bracket member 46 and at the other end with the lower end of the screw threaded rod 50 ot' the spring adjusting means heretofore described.

WVhile a coiled spring arranged in either manner heretofore described, is found by practical test to attord a very eli ective and practical variable resistance element, it within the scope of the invention to substitute for said spring any other usual means for providing progressively increasing re sistance load or stress, such for instance as a compressible air cushion, or weight or load carried by a suitably arranged cranlr arm.

The vertically adjustable post 22, ot' the present construction, is provided with any usual means for fastening the same in place after an adjustment, preferably by means of a tangentially arranged wedge block 54 and an operating screw bolt 55 associated with the said post and with the tubular standard 19, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 6.

Having thus fully described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a musical instrument, the combination of a resonant member, tensioning means for said member, a balancing means of the stored energy type, and a reverse motion member, one side of which is connected to said tensioning means and the other side to said balancing means and operating to vary the force of the balancing means in a manner corresponding with the variation in the stress of said tensioning means on the resonant member.

2. In a musical instrument, the combination of a resonant member, tensioning means for said member, a balancing means of the stored energy type, and a reverse motion member of the rocker type arranged intermediate ot the tensioning and the balancing means and operating to vary the force of the balancing means in a manner corresponding with the variation in the stress 01" said tensioning means on the resonant memher.

3. In a musical instrument, the combination of a resonant member, tensioning means for said member, a balancing means of the stored elastic energy type, and a reverse motion member one side of which is connected to said tensioning means and the other side to the balancing means and oper- 'ating to vary the force of the balancing means in a manner corresponding with the variation in the stress of said tensioning means on the resonant member.

4. In a musical instrument, the combination of a resonant member, tensioning means oi the rocker type for said resonant member, balancing means of the stored elastic energy type, and a reverse motion member of the rocker type arranged intermediate ot' the tensioning and the balancing means and operating to vary the force of the balancing means in manner corresponding with the variation in the stress of said tensioning means on the resonant member.

In a musical instrument, the combin: tion or a main shell, a support therefor, a resonant head and its carrying hoop fitting an end of said shell, a pedal actuated mechanism for adjusting said head to raise and lower its tone, a balancing means of the stored energy type, and a reverse motion member, one side oi which is connected to said pedal actuateo mechanism and the'other side to said balancing means.

6. In a musical instrument, the combination ot a main shell, a support therefor, a resonant head and its carrying hoop fitting an end of said shell, a pedal actuated mechanism 015 the rocker type for adjusting said head to raise and lower its tone, a balancing means of the stored energy type, and a reverse motion member one side of which is connected to said pedal actuated mechanism and the other side to said balancing means.

7. In a musical instrument, the combinzr tion of a main shell, a support therefor, a resonant head and its carrying hoop fitting an end of said shell, a pedal actuated mechanism for adjusting said head to raise and lower its tone, a balancing means of the stored elastic energy type, and reverse motion member, one side of which is connected to said pedal actuated mechanisu and the other side to said balancing me, is.

Q In a musical instrument, tl-e combina U- tion of a main shell, a support the eior, a resonant head and its carrying hoop fitting an end of said shell, pedal actuated mechanism of the rocker type for adjusting said head to raise and lower its tone, a balancing means of the stored elastic energy type, and a reverse motion men'iber, one side or which is connected to said pedal actuated mechanism and the other side to said balancing means.

9. In a musical instrument, the combination of a main shell, a support therefor, a resonant head and its carrying hoop fitting an end of said shell, hand actuated means for effecting an adjustment oi the resonant head to the lowermost tone of the required scale, a pedal actuated mechanism operative ly connected to said hand operated means, a

memes balancing means of the stored energy type, and a reverse motion member, one side of which is connected to said pedal actuated mechanism and the other side to said balancing means.

10. In musical instrument, the combination of a main shell, a support therefor, a resonant head and its carrying hoop fitting an end or said shell, hand actuated means for etlecting an adjustment of the resonant head to the lowermost tone of the required scale, a pedal actuated mechanism of the rocker type operatively connected to said hand operated means, a balancing means ot the stored energy type, and a reverse motion member. one side of which is connected to said pedal actuated mechanism and the other side to said balancing means.

11. In a musical instrument, the combination of a main shell, a support therefor. a resonant head and its carrying hoop fitting an end of said shell, hand actuated means loretlecting an adjustment ot the resonant head to the lowermost tone of the required scale, a pedal actuated mechanism operatively connected to said hand operated means, a balancing means oi the stored elastic enern type, and a reverse motion member, one side or which is connected to said pedal actuated mechanism and the other side to said balancing means.

12. In a musical instrument, the combination of a main shell, a support therefor, a resonant head and its carrying: hoop titting an end of said shell, hand actuated means for effecting an adjustment of the resonant head to the lowermost tone of the required scale, a pedal actuated mechanism of the rocker type operatively connected to said hand operated means, a balancing means of the stored elastic energy type, and a reverse motion member, one side 01. which is connected to said pedal actuated mechanism and the other side to said balancing means.

13. In a musical instrument, the combination of a main shell, a support therefor, a resonant head and its carrying hoop fitting an end ot said shell, hand actuated means for eitccting an adjustment of the resonant head to the lowermost tone oi? the required scale, a pedal actuated mechanism operatively connected to said hand operated means, the same comprising a foot pedal pivoted at its midlength on the support aforesaid and having-a lateral arm, an angle lever pivoted in said-support, a connecting rodbetween one arm "of the angle lever and the lateral arm of the toot pedal, a con trally disposed head having a rodconneo tion with the other arm otthe angle lever aforesaid, and a plurality otpull rods extending radially from said central head and having operative connections with the hand actuated means atoresaid, and abalancing means of the stored energy type, connected to the arm of the angle lever to which ope-rative connection of the connecting rod from the foot pedal is made.

14;. In a musical instrument, the combination oi a main shell, a support there-tor termed with an orificed web, a resonant head and its tarrying hoop fitting an end or said shell, hand actuated means for effecting an adjustment of the r sonant head to the l wcrmost tone of the required scale, radially arranged pull rods operatively connected at their outer ends to said hand actuated means, a central head forming a connection in common for the inner ends oi said pull rods, a pedal actuated mechanism mounted on the aforesaid support, and a rod connecting said pedal m chanism with the central head aforesaid and having a stop collar for stop abutment beneath the orificed web oi? the shell support aforesaid.

1.5. In a musical instrument, the co111bination of a main shell, a support therefor, a resonant head and its carrying hoop littingr an end of said shell, a pedal actuated mechanism tor adjusting said head to raise and lower its tone, the same comprising a foot lever pivoted on the shell support, an angle lever pivoted on said support, a rod connection between one arm of the angle lever and the foot pedal, and operative connections between the other arm of the angle lever and the resonant head, and a balancing means of the stored force type pivotally mounted at one end in the shell support and pivotal-1y connected at the other end to the first mentioned arm of the angle lever.

16. In a musical instrument, the combination of a main shell, a support therefor, a resonant head and its carrying hoop fitting an end of said shell, a pedal actuated mechanism for adjusting said head to raise and lower its tone, the same comprising; a toot lever pivoted on the shell support, an angle lever pivoted on said support, a rod connection between one arm of the angle lever and the foot pedal, and operative connections between the other arm of the angle lever and the resonant head, and a balanc ing means comprising a coiled spring, a casingr providing an abutment tor one end of said spring and having at a point adjacent to the other end or the spring a bracket having pivotal connection with the arm of the angle lever which has connection with the toot pedal, a head in said casing pro viding an abutment -t'or :the last ;mentioned end of the spring, and 'aisupporting rodfor said ,head attached to :the .main support .of the instrument.

17. In musicalinstrument,:.the ;co1nbina tioncf anainshell, a support therefor, a resonant head and-its tcarrying Lhoo-p fitting an end .of said shell, a pedal actuated mechanisnu for adjusting said head to raise and lower its tone, the same comprising a foot lever pivoted on the shell support, an angle lever pivoted on said support, a rod connection between one arm of the angle lever and the foot pedal, and operative connections between the other arm of the angle lever and the resonant head, and a balancing means comprising a coiled spring, a casing providing an abutment for one end of the spring and having at a point adjacent to the other end of the spring a bracket having pivotal connection with the arm of the an gle lever which has connection with the foot pedal, a head in said casing providing an abutment for the last mentioned end of the spring, and a supporting rod for said head pivotally attached to the main support of the instrument and formed by a pair of aligned sections connected together by screw threads, one of said sections har'ing individual rotation with relation to the other.

V 18. In a musical instrument, the combination of a main shell, a resonant head and its carrying ioop fitting an end of said shell, a support for said shell, a pivotal connection between said support and shell comprising cheek plates on the parts pivotally connected together by pivot studs and open sided recesses, pedal actuated mechanisn'i mounted on said support and operatively conn cted to the resonant head through a connecting member formed in sections, a radius link arranged adjacent said cheelr plates and pivotally connected to one section of the aforesaid connecting member and detachably connected by an open ended socket with the other section of said member.

19. In a musical instrument, the combination of a main shell having on one end a. cup member provided with check plates, a resonant head and its carrying hoop fitting the other end of the shell, hand actuated means for effecting an adjustment of the resonant head to the lowermost tone of the scale required, the some comprising radially arranged pull rods operatively connected at their outer ends to the resonant head, a cen tral head forming a connection in common for the inner ends of said pull rods, a pul rod attached to said head and having a stop lug for abutmentagainst a web portion of the aforesaid cup member, a support having an upstanding post formed with oheel; plates for pivotal connection with the cheek plates of the aforesaid cup member, a pedal actuated mechanism mounted on said support and operatively connect-ed to the pull rod of the aforesaid central head. by a connecting member moving in the aforesaid hollow post, a radius linl: pivotally connecting the upper end of the hollow post and the upper portion of said connecting member to maintain the same in position 20. In a musical instrument, the combine tion of a main shell having on one end acne memes member provided with check plates a re-- sonant head and its carrying hoop fitting the other end of the shell, hand actuated means for effecting an adjustment of the resonant head to the lowermost tone of the scale required, the same comprising radially arranged pull rods operatively connected at their outer ends to the resonant head, a central head forming a connection in common for the inner ends of said pull rods, a pull 7v rod attached to said head and hav ng a stop lug for abutment against a web portion of the aforesaid cup member, a support having an upstanding post formed with check plates for pivotal connection with the chee z plates of the aforesaid cup member, a pedal actuated mechanism mounted on said support and operatively connected to the pull rod of the aforesaid central head by a con ccting member moving in the aforesaid llOllOW post, the connection being of the ball and soc formation, a radius linl: pivotally cort ing the upper end of the hollow post and the upper portion of said connecting iildllk her to maintain the same in positi 21. in a musical instrument, th combEnation of a main shell, a support tlerefor formed with an orificed web, resonant head and its carrying hoop fitting an cm o said shell, hand actuated means for clfcctan adjustn'ient of the resonant head to the lowermost tone of the required scale, radially arranged pull rods operatively connected at their outer ends to said. hand acti'u ated means, a central head forming a corn ncction in common for tne inner ends of the pull rods, said central head having a radially slotted marginal flange for detachable ent with heads formed on the inner ends of said pull rods and a pedal actuated mechanism opcratively connected to said central head.

22. In a musical instrument, the cor Ill tion of a main shell, :1 support thcrcior, formed with an oriliced web, a r sonant head and its carr ting hoop fitting of said shell, hand actuated me s fecting an adjustment of the ri r h to the lowermot tone of the reqL led s I 'adially arrai V a pull rods operatively con.- ncct ll at their outer ends to said hand actuated. nieias, a central head forin x :2 H- nection in. common for the inner c i. the pull. rods, said central head her tral rod and z radially slotted ma; 'lange for detachable engagement heads formed on the inner ends or rods, a spring impelled. mounted on the central red head to hold the inner ends rods in. place in said head.

Si n

F. LUDlVlG.

C. l. A LY. 

